AN AGE OF
EXPANSIONISM
America: Past and Present
Chapter 13
Territorial Expansion by mid-1800’s
1842--Webster-Ashburton Treaty settles the northeast U.S.-Canadian boundary
Settlers move westward for fertile land, religious freedom, economic opportunity and sense of
adventure
Americans begin settling in:
Oregon territory (joint U.S., English claim)
New Mexico territory (owned by Mexico)
California (owned by Mexico)
The Texas Revolution
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1820s--Americans move into Texas
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Led by Stephen Austin
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"Anglos" never fully accept
Mexican rule
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1829--Mexico tries abolishing
slavery
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1835--armed rebellion breaks out
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Remember the Alamo
The Republic of Texas
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March, 1836--Texans declare independence
April, 1836--Santa Anna defeated
at San Jacinto (Sam Houston)
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May, 1836--Santa Anna’s treaty
recognizes Texas' claim to territory
(Mexico repudiates)
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Texas offers free land grants to U.S.
settlers
►
Annexation to U.S. refused by
Jackson
Trails of Trade and Settlement
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Santa Fe Trail closed to U.S. travelers as a result of Mexico’s war with
Texas
Oregon Trail conduit for heavy stream of settlers to the Oregon country
►
Oregon settlers demand an end to joint U.S., English occupation
►
The Mormon Trek: Westward Flight
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Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints
founded by Joseph Smith, 1830
►
Mormon church seeks revival of pure aboriginal
American Christianity
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Mormons persecuted for unorthodoxy
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Flee New York for Nauvoo, Illinois
►
Murder of Joseph Smith
prompts resettlement to
Great Salt Lake in Utah
►
Brigham Young
Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War
►
Widespread call for annexation of newly-settled lands
►
“Manifest Destiny” a slogan of those believing the U.S. divinely ordained to
encompass Mexico and Canada
Tyler and Texas
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1841--John Tyler assumes presidency after William Henry
Harrison’s death
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Tyler breaks with Whigs
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1844--Tyler negotiates annexation with Texas for reelection campaign issue
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Opposition to his plan led by northern anti-slavery Whigs
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Senate refuses to ratify
►
Tyler loses Whig nomination to Henry Clay
The Triumph of Polk and
Annexation
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Democrats nominate James K. Polk
Polk runs on expansionist platform
 annexation of Texas for Southern vote
 U.S. jurisdiction of Oregon for Northern vote
 Fifty-four Forty or Fight
Polk, Congress interpret his election as mandate for
expansion
Texas annexed before Polk inaugurated
The Doctrine of Manifest Destiny
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Limits to American expansion undefined
"Manifest destiny" first used in 1845
 God wants the U.S., His chosen nation, to become stronger
 Americans make new territories free and democratic
 growing American population needs land
Polk and the Oregon Question
►
1846--Polk notifies Great Britain
that the U.S. no longer accepts
joint occupation
►
England prepares for war,
proposes division of the area
►
Senate approves division of
Oregon along 49o north latitude,
Treaty of 1846
►
U.S. gains ownership of Puget
Sound
►
North condemned Polk for
division
War with Mexico
►
May 13, 1846--War on Mexico declared
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Provoked when troops sent over border dispute (Nueces vs. Rio Grande)
►
General Zachary Taylor wins campaign in northern Mexico
►
Colonel Stephen Kearney captured New Mexico and joined John C. Frémont
in taking California by early 1847
►
September, 1847--General
Winfield Scott occupies
Mexico City
►
February, 1848--Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo
►
Wars ultimately fought to
force annexation of New
Mexico and California
Internal Expansionism
► “Young
Americans” link territorial growth to other
material achievements

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technological innovation—e.g. telegraph
transportation improvements
growth of trade
mass immigration
► Discovery
of California gold inspires
transcontinental projects
► Territorial expansion wanes after 1848, economic,
population growth continues
The Triumph of the Railroad
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1840s--railroad begins displacing canals
Transition gradual since canal boats cheaper
Rail construction stimulates iron industry
Railroads stimulate new forms of finance
 bonds
 preferred stock
 government subsidies
 State and local government
funding
The Industrial Revolution
Takes Off
► Mass
production, the division of labor
makes production more efficient
► Factory system emerges



gather laborers in one place for supervision
cash wages
“continuous process" of manufacturing
► Agriculture
becomes mechanized
► Northern economy based on interaction
of industry, transportation, agriculture
Mass Immigration Begins
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1840-1860--4 million Irish, Germans immigrate to U.S.
Ireland and potato famine, Irish see more prejudice than Germans
Majority settled in Northeast
Most come for higher wages
Immigrants fill low-paying jobs in port cities
Low immigrant wages contribute to slums
Urban reform movement results
The New Working Class
►
1840s--factory labor begins shifting from
women, children to men
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Immigrants dominate new working class
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Employers less involved with laborers
►
Post-1837 employers demand more work
for less pay
►
Unions organized to defend worker rights
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Wage laborers resent discipline,
continuous nature of factory work
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Workers cling to traditional work habits
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Adjustment to new work style was painful
and took time (rural to industrial)
The Costs of Expansion
► Working


class poses problem for ideals
working for wages assumed the first step
toward becoming one’s own master
new class of permanent wage-earners conflicts
with old ideal
► Economic
expansion creates conflicts
between classes
► Territorial expansion creates conflicts
between sections
► Both sets of conflicts uncontrollable